Dish subscribers with an Internet-connected Hopper or Wally DVR can now deliver voice commands to Amazon’s Echo to change channels, and perform other tasks such as pause, fast-forward and rewind.
Click Amazon: Get the Echo For $179!
The satcaster is the first TV provider to offer direct compatibility with the Echo, Amazon’s suite of digital assistants featuring the voice of “Alexa.”
Dish announced the partnership with Amazon at last January’s Consumer Electronics Show, but is just now launching the feature.
Click Amazon: Fire TV Stick With Alexa: $39!
To use the Echo to operate your Dish TV service, you must follow these three steps:
1. Enable Dish TV in the Alexa app. (Open the Alexa app on a mobile device and select, ‘Music, Video & Books,’ then ‘Dish TV,” and finally ‘Enable Skill.’)
2. Get a receiver code by turning on the Hopper or Wally and go to the set-top’s Menu, then Settings, then Amazon Alexa, and finally, Get Code. Once you get the generated code, you enter it into the Alexa app and select Activate. Click Done in the confirmation message.
Click Amazon: Get the Amazon Echo Show For $229!
3. Pair the Hopper or Wally with an Amazon Echo, Dot or Tap by selecting your Hopper or Wally receiver model from the list of devices in the Alexa app. Then, click Continue, and select the Amazon device to be synced with the receiver. Finally, click Link Devices.
Click Amazon: Get the Amazon Tap For $129!
After completing the three steps, users with an Internet-connected Hopper (any generation) or Wally can ask Alexa to navigate, play, pause, fast-forward, rewind and search content based on channel, title, actor or genre.
Click Amazon: Get the Amazon Fire TV For $89!
In related news, Dish Anywhere, the satcaster’s mobile service, is now available on any TV connected to an Amazon Fire TV stick or Fire TV set-top. With Dish Anywhere, you can watch programming from your subscribed channels by typing in your Dish user name and password.
— Phillip Swann
